FAILSWORTH MEN IN SHEDS GROUP RECEIVES £2,000 DONATION TO SUPPORT UPCOMING PROJECTS
Helping to recognise the outstanding contribution the Men in Sheds team provide in supporting the wellbeing of local older people, the McCarthy Stone Foundation has donated £2,000 to assist with new projects throughout 2024.
Run by Age UK Oldham, Men in Sheds provides both support and a safe and friendly meeting place for local men over 55 who might otherwise find themselves isolated and lonely. Located at Charles House on Albert Street West, the workshop-style initiative encourages members to share and learn new skills, participate in a mix of fun and practical activities, from refurbishing furniture to wooden toy making, and putting the world to rights over a brew all whilst enjoying the company of like-minded individuals.
According to Age UK, more than one million older men now live alone in the UK , many of whom have faced issues, such as loss of relationships through bereavement or reduced social interactions due to worsening health or mobility.
Initiatives like Men in Sheds can have a significant positive impact on the wellbeing of older people by encouraging new friendships, offering opportunities to contribute to local communities, providing access to services and benefits which support independent living, and improving self-confidence.
Men in Sheds previously received external funding, however, this stopped after the initial agreed 3 year period and Age UK Oldham have not been able to secure any funding since. The charity funds all staffing and overheads themselves and relies heavily on donations to help keep the shed going. Spotting an opportunity to help, the McCarthy Stone Foundation stepped in and donated £2,000 to be used towards new materials and tools for projects throughout 2024.
John Scholes, Co-ordinator at Men in Sheds, said: “We can’t thank the McCarthy Stone Foundation enough for their generous donation. The Men in Sheds group has become a key part of Failsworth and the wider Oldham area, providing a safe and fun environment in which local men over the age of 55 can share skills and try something new whilst establishing new friendships.
“Using the donation from the McCarthy Stone Foundation, we can purchase the materials and equipment we need. This means we can provide members with a better equipped facility, which will ultimately help them with their own projects, as well as those that will benefit the Failsworth community.”
The McCarthy Stone Foundation supports grassroots, volunteer led charitable causes that promote the health and wellbeing of older people. It is the independent, registered charity of the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy Stone, which has a new Retirement Living development under construction on Ashton Road West in Failsworth.
Declan Fishwick, Business Development Manager at McCarthy Stone, comments: “Supporting and engaging with the communities close to our developments is a key focus at McCarthy Stone and we are delighted, in partnership with the McCarthy Stone Foundation, to lend a helping hand to Men in Sheds in Failsworth, which has been a prominent feature in the town since its setup in 2013.
“As a company specialising in the development of friendly and welcoming communities for retirees, the happiness and welfare of older people is at the heart of everything we do. This makes initiatives such as this a great fit for us. We look forward to seeing the Men in Sheds group continue its work in supporting the wider community through its range of activities.”
